Years. It took Dirk 13. And J-Kidd 17. And Jet 12. And Matrix 12. And DeShawn 11. And Tyson 10. And the Dallas Mavericks 31 to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. Last night, the whole group officially got it up. The Mavs came into Miami ready for a dogfight, a Game 7 ride-or-die. They rode, the Heat’s season died. Finals MVP Dirk “The Diggler” Nowitzki (Nike Hyperdunk 2010) got off to a very slow start in Game 6 but Jason Terry (Reebok Zig Slash), J.J. Barea (Converse Star Player EVO Low) and Shawn Marion (Nike Air Max Fly By) picked up the slack, even running up a 12-point lead in the first half. Even though Miami’s Eddie House (Nike Zoom Go Low) unexpectedly helped the Heat catch up with three 3’s off the bench, the Mavs kept pulling ahead.

Then Dirk happened. Jumper, Jumper, Jumper. Suddenly he has 21 and 11. Jet has 27. Matrix has 12. Barea has 15. And the Heat have no answers. Dwyane Wade (in a new shade of the Jordan Fly Wade) tried with 17. Chris Bosh (Nike Air Max Hyperdunk 2011) tried (and later cried) with 19. LeBron (Nike LeBron 8 PS) bested them with 21 but there’s just something about that fourth quarter. Doesn’t matter now. Final score – Mavs 105, Heat 95. The Dallas Mavericks are 2011 NBA Champions. A triumph, indeed.

But we shoe nuts lost last night, too. When Game 6’s final buzzer sounded, our 2010-11 kicks season also expired. Who knows when we’ll get to pore over pics of new player exclusives, original models, fresh colorways and ridiculous assortments again. The lockout could end before next season. Or not. It could end next spring, next next fall, or next next spring. Maybe it never ends and this is the last NBA basketball and NBA Kicks we ever see. Ok, the lattermost scenario kids you. Regardless of when the next season starts, we can enjoy what we have right here, right now. Which is the NBA Kicks roundup of the Mavs’ title-clinching Game 6 over the Heat. So go ahead and enjoy it already, you readers. Always readin’, you people.